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Citing misuse by a fish-hatchery supervisor, Ohio Inspector General Randall J. Meyer is
questioning the need to issue state credit cards to nearly two-thirds of Department of Natural
Resources employees.

An investigation released yesterday found that David Insley, former superintendent of the
Castalia Fish Hatchery in Erie County, improperly charged $5,164 to his state credit card for
propane for his home on the hatchery’s grounds.

Insley, who told Meyer’s investigators that the propane purchases dating to 2004 had been
approved by a supervisor he could not identify, was fired on June 7.

Other fish-hatchery employees, who also have state credit cards, reported purchases of mulch
delivered to Insley’s home and suspicious purchases of blacktop and fertilizer, according to the
investigation.

Meyer asked ODNR officials to determine whether repayment by Insley is warranted and referred
his report to the Erie County prosecutor for review.

The report found that supervisors were not reviewing purchases in a timely manner and that money
was being spent with non-approved vendors.

Meyer said that state credit cards have been issued to 1,157 employees of ODNR — nearly 63 p
ercent of its work force — and asked the agency to reconsider the need to issue credit cards to so
many employees.

The ODNR, which initiated Meyer’s investigation and conducted a probe that led to Insley’s
dismissal, will respond after completing its review of the report, a spokesman said.